Why Your RFQ Should Include More Than Just a Drawing

Buyers, here’s a question: Could you use some time back in your day? Between sending out RFQs, waiting for responses, and juggling timelines, the answer is probably yes. If you aren’t already doing so, one of the simplest ways to speed up the quoting process is to include the 3D CAD file with the drawing.

The Role of 3D CAD Files in Modern Quoting

If you’re already providing your manufacturing partners with a drawing, why does the 3D CAD file matter so much? It comes down to speed, as the 3D file fundamentally changes how fast a supplier can turn your RFQ around.

For decades, estimators manually interpreted every dimension, every spec, and every note from a drawing before they could even start quoting. They relied on spreadsheets and custom calculators to work through the numbers, making it a methodical and very manual process. Modern quoting software has changed that. Today, the software can analyze part geometry directly from the 3D file and automatically determine:  

• – Part features (such as holes, countersinks, and counterbores)
• – Sheet metal flat patterns and blank sizes
• – Part volumes
• – Types of manufacturing operations

With the software handling the setup, estimators can jump straight into evaluating cost and manufacturability instead of spending time on manual calculations. Think of the 3D file as a force multiplier. For example, rather than manually calculating the total number of inches in a perimeter that resembles Rhode Island’s coastline, the software figures it out instantly. The drawing and 3D model work in unison: while the 3D file builds up the geometry, the drawing communicates specs, tolerances, and design intent. It’s the one-two punch that gets the quote done faster.

What a Missing 3D CAD File Actually Costs You

Without the 3D model, estimators have to manually interpret the drawing and approximate the information that software could otherwise extract automatically. It still gets done, but it takes longer, which means your quote takes longer to come back.

The bigger issue, however, is what happens downstream. If a supplier wins the order and the buyer didn’t provide a 3D file, their engineering team often has to recreate the 3D model from the drawing before production can even begin. That’s time on the supplier’s side, which you feel in the form of longer lead times.

Recreating the model is also where real risk enters the picture. Think about a part with 200 dimensions. When a manufacturing partner has to recreate that model from only your drawing, every single measurement is entered manually. Across 200 entries, it’s almost inevitable that someone will miskey a number. And if that mistake doesn’t get caught before production, you could end up with a thousand parts that don’t meet spec. What started as a missing file turns into rejected parts, quality teams getting involved on both sides, discrepant material reports (DMRs), credits, rework, and a whole lot of back-and-forth that really didn’t need to happen.

There’s also a less obvious benefit to including the 3D file: it acts as a built-in cross-check. There have been plenty of cases where a customer’s 3D model didn’t match their own drawing. When both are included, that discrepancy is caught early rather than showing up on the production floor. The two files should be in sync with each other, not conflicting, and having both in hand is what makes that verification possible.

What to Include in Your RFQ Package

A strong RFQ package includes a STEP file (the universal 3D CAD format) and the drawing. That’s the baseline, and for most parts, it’s all a supplier needs to get moving quickly.

For assemblies or weldments, the best approach is to export the top-level assembly as a STEP file, include the corresponding drawings, and package everything into a ZIP file or a shared folder. Most CAD software can export assembly STEPs that include all child-component geometry, so suppliers can analyze the full assembly without requesting each piece individually.  Nu-Way can also accept (and it’s preferred) if the customer sends native Solidworks files using the “Pack n’ Go” feature which makes it simple to gather up those files.

The good news is that your facility almost certainly already has these files since manual drafting of these drawings seldom happens today. Instead, the part gets drawn in 3D, and the software converts it to a drawing. It’s always going from that workflow, never the other way around. 

In other words, the 3D CAD file exists. It’s just a matter of including it. In most cases, all you may have to do is ask engineering.

Make Including 3D Files the New Routine

As technology continues to advance, this process is becoming the new normal across the manufacturing industry. In fact, many OEMs have been including 3D files in the quoting process for many years now. They know that better RFQ data leads to faster quotes, faster order processing, reduced lead times, fewer errors, and less back-and-forth.

If you want to streamline the RFQ process and help prevent downstream quality headaches in your manufacturing operation, including the 3D model along with the part drawing is one of the simplest ways to do so. It means faster response times from your manufacturing partners and a more efficient timeline from quote to production.Put it into practice. Send us your next RFQ with the drawing and the 3D file, and see the difference it makes. Request a quote from Nu-Way Industries.